Hydraulic transmission



March 6, 1945. P. A. DEARDORFF ET AL HYDRAULIC TRANSMI S S ION Fild April 25, 1942 TTORNEY 5 March 6, 1945.

P. A. DEARDORFF ET AL HYDRAULIC TRANSMISS ION 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25 INVENTQRS a. 91% nd BY(% d. m(@

ATTORNEYS March 6, 1945. P. A. DEARDIORFF ET AL I 2,370,640

HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION Filed April 25, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Patented Mar. 6, 1945 UNITED srA Es PATENT OFFICE I HYDRAUJZmsMlssIoN I I I Paul A. Deardorfl,

- Bal Application April 25, 1942, Serial No. 440,464

14 Claims.

' This invention relates to a hydraulic transmission whereby varying rates of speed can be obtained between the driving and driven shafts of an mechanism, the transmission being capable of use, for example, in place of the usual gear shift transmission mechanism of automobiles. The transmission forming the subject of the invention can also be used as a torque absorber in marine use, for example, in absorbing excessive torque upon the propeller shaft as the propeller leaves the water, races and is suddenly slowed down upon reentering the water.

More particularly the invention relates to the type of gearless and clutchless transmission having a nutating disk or plate rotating with one of the shafts of the transmission and connected by a series of pistons with cylinders fast to the other shaft of the mechanism, the control of the relative rotation of the nutating driving disk or plate and the driven shaft of the transmission being effected by controlling the restriction to the flow of fluid pumped into and out of the cylinders by the pistons.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a transmission of the above type which is adapted to heavy loads and which is of simple construction and which will stand up under conditions of severe and constant use without getting out of order or requiring repairs.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a transmission which can. be controlled either by'centrifugal means associated with the driving shaft to control the degreeof slippage between the driving shaft and the driven shaft or by a manual means. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide such a control which is simple and positive in its action. Y i

Another object is to provide such a transmission which can be readily assembled and disassembled and which requires'a minimum amount of machining to produce the various parts of the.

transmission.

Another object is to provide such a hydraulic transmission which "is-compact in construction and in which there is little likelihood of leakage of the liquid through which the operation of the transmission is controlled.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is-a'vertical longitudinal section, through struction of one of the pistons and cylinders which form a part of the transmission.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken on line Fig. 2. 4

Figs. 4 and 5 are diminutive vertical cross sections, through the transmission, taken on the -;:orrespondingly numbered lines of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a .view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of transmission embodying our invention.

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section, taken' on line 'll, Fig. 6.

sion being controlled by the speed of the driving part and a positive brake being applied to the driven part when the transmission is brought to a neutral condition; Thus, with the transmis- S1011 shown in Figs. 1-5, when the driving shaft increases from an idling speed, it first releases the brake for the driven shaft and thereafter, through a series of centrifugally moved weights, increases the restrictionto'the flow of fluid to and from the controlling cylinders, as hereinafter described, so as to progressively bring the driving and driven parts into a direct drive.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-5, the driving part or shaft of the transmission :is indicated at It and the driven part or shaft of the transmission is indicated at H, the driven part or shaft I I being provided with a central bore I2 and being shown as connecting with the usual reversing gearing contained within a reversing gearv case l3. The reversing gearing forms no part of the present invention and hence is not shown in detail.

An' imperforate wheel or flywheel I5 is fast to the end of the drive shaft 10, the hub of this flywheel being shown as carrying a. roller bearing IS in which the end of the driven shaft H is journaled. An annular casting I1 is shown as suitably secured to that face of the flywheel I5 opposing the reversing gear case I3, and this annular casting is formed to provide a series of uniformly spaced bores l9 whichare arranged concentric and parallel with the axis of the drive and driven shafts l0 and II, the annular casting I? be ng shown as provided with eight of such 2 asromo bores although any suitable number can be employed. In each of these bores is fitted a cylinder indicated generally at 28 and for this purpose, as best shown in Fig. 2, each bore I8 is enlarged at the end opposing the reversing gear case l3, as indicated at 2|, to receive an annular bead 22 on the corresponding cylinder 28 and is provided with an annular groove receiving a split retaining ring 23 which holdsthe bead and the cylinder 28 in position in the bore l8.

Each of the cylinders 28 is of cup shaped form and its closed end 24 projects from the opposite end of its bore I3 and is providedv with an external annular groove receiving a split retaining ring 25. This split retainingring 25 forms the end abutment of a helical compression spring 26, the other end of which bears against the end of a control sleeve 28 which is slidingly mounted on the cylinder 28 and is yieldingly held against the annular casting H by the helical compression spring 26. Each of these control sleeves 28 is provided at its outer end with an enlarged bead 28' forming a shoulder for actuating the sleeve,

and is slidable against the resistance of its compression spring 26 to cover, in a varying degree, an annular series of teardrop shaped ports 38 provided in parallel arrangement around the exposed end of the cylinder. Each of these teardrop shaped ports 38 has its enlarged end projecting toward the reversing gear case l3 and is adapted to register with similarly shaped and arranged ports 3| in a plunger or piston 32 working in the cylinder.

Each of the pistons or plungers 32 projects outwardly from the open end of the corresponding cylinder 28 and is of cup shaped form having a closed outer extremity 33. To this extremity is secured a ball shaped head 34 which fits in a socket 35 provided in a nutating disk or plate indicated generally at 36. This nutating disk or plate 36 is made in two halves 36a and 36b, the two disk shaped halves being held together by an annular series of bolts 31 to securely hold the ball shaped ends 34 of the plungers in their sockets 35. The central parts of the two halves of the nutating disk or plate 36 are enlarged and jointly provide a central spherical shaped socket 38 which fits around the spherical periphery of an enlargement 38 provided on the driven shaft The periphery of the nutating disk or plate 36 rides in an internal bearing groove 48 provided in the rim 4| of a cage 42, this cage having a hub 43 keyed to the driven shaft II. To permit of fitting the periphery of the nutating disk or plate 36 in the bearing groove 48, the rim 4| is split alon a line 44 arranged centrally of the groove 48 and the two parts of the rim 4| are secured together by screws 45 or in any other suitable manner. The groove 48 is arranged at an angle to the perpendicular of the axis of the driving and driven shafts I8 and I I and it will therefore be-seen that as the parts rotate, the disk or plate 36 nutates thereby to work the pistons 32 into and out of the cylinders 28 as long as they are free to do so. The periphery of the nutating disk 36 is free to rotate in the internal groove 40 of the cage 42.

The parts rotate in a body of liquid contained within a drum 50 having a rim 5| suitably bolted to an outwardly extending annular flange 52 provided on the annular casting I I which carries the cylinders 28-. The hub 53'at the opposite end of the drum 58 houses a roller bearing 54 and oil seal 55 which embrace the driven shaft ll 5 as to retain the body of liquid in the drum 58 and in operative relation to the ports 38 of the cylinders 28 as hereinafter described.

The entire transmission as above described is housed within a stationary transmission casing 56 which can be of any suitable form and can be secured to the reversing gear case |3 in any suitable manner. This stationary transmission gear casing 56 is shown as provided with internal lugs 51 which carry a ring 58 which is arranged concentric with the axis of the driven shaft II. A friction brake facing 58 is secured to the face of the stationary ring 58 opposing the reversing gear case I3 and this friction brake face is engaged by the rim of a brake disk 68 which is slidingly mounted on'and rotates with the driven shaft H. For this purpose, the hub of the brake disk 68 fits the driven shaft and is provided with a cross pin 6| which extends through a pair of opposite longitudinal slots 62 provided in the walls of the bored driven shaft Means are provided for automatically actuating the control sleeves 28 surrounding the cylinders 28 and the brake disk 68 in response to the speed of the driving shaft l8, these means bemg preferably constructed as follows:

The flywheel l5 carries a series of pins 65, four being shown, and each being shown as arranged at right angles to each other and at right angles to the axis of the flywheel l5. Each of these pins 65 pivotally supports a centrifugal weight 66 the weighted end 61 of which projects toward the reversing gear case l3 and normally rests against the adjacent part of the driven shaft The hub 68 of each of these weights is formed to provide a finger 68 which engages that face of an inwardly projecting flange 18 of a shifting ring H which opposes the reversing gear case l3. The shifting ring is provided with an outwardly projecting flange 12 which engages the several shoulders provided on the control sleeves 28 provided by the bead 28 on each of these sleeves. To control the brake disk 68, the hub 68 of each of the centrifugal weights 66 is provided with an inwardly projecting finger 13 which engages one race of a roller thrust bearing 14 slidingly mounted on the driven shaft H. The other race of this roller thrust bearing 14 engages a ring 15 also slidingly mounted on the driven shaft II. This sliding ring 15 carries a crosspin 16 which moves through a pair of longitudinal slots 11 provided in the opposite walls of the driven shaft II, this cross pin 16 carryin a cylindrical head 18 working in the bore I2 of the driven shaft II. This head is connected by a rod 19 with the cross pin 6| of the brake disk 68 and a helical compression spring 88 is interposed between this head 18 and a stufiing box 8| in the bore |2 surrounding the rod 18.

In operation, when the driving shaft I8 is idling, the helical compression spring 88 urges the rod 19 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby, through the cross pin 6|, to urge the brake disk 68 into braking engagement with the friction facing 59 of the stationary brake ring 58. Since the pin 6| compels the driven shaft II and the brake disk 68 to rotate together, it will be seen that this action of the helical compression spring 88 serves to v hold the driven shaft H stationary.

When the driving shaft in is idling, this helical compression spring 88, through the cylindrical head 18, cross pin 16, sliding ring 15 and thrust bearing 14 urges the fingers 13 of the centrifugal weights 66 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1.

This holds the weighted ends 91 of these weights against the driven shaft II' and holds the other fingers 88 of these weights in a position in which the shifting ring II is free to assume its extreme right hand position as viewed in Fig. 1.

In this position of the shifting ring I I, the helical compression spring 26 on each of the cylinders 28 holds the corresponding control sleeve valve 28 in its extreme right hand position as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 thereby to leave the teardrop shaped ports 38 in each cylinder 28 open for the free ingress and egress of the body of liquid contained in the drum 58' into and out of each cylinder 28.

Since these cylinders '28 are fast 'to the annular casting II which is ingtumsecured to the flywheel I5 of the drive shaft I8, these cylinders rotate with the. drive shaft I8 and carry with them the pistons 32. These pistons have their ball ends 34 secured in sockets 35 in the nutating disk or plate 36 and hence the rotation of the pistons 32 with the drive .shaft effects a similar rotation of the nutating disk or plate 36. As the pistons are free to slide in the cylinders 28, however, this rotation of the nutating disk 36 merely serves to work the 'plungers or pistons v 32 back and forth in the cylinders 28, pumping liquid into and out of these cylinders through the teardrop ports 38, no motion being transmitted to the cage 42, the periphery of the notating disk or plate 36 merely riding idly around in the groove 48 in the rim of this cage. Hence, when the drive shaft I8 is idling, no motion is transmitted to the driven shaft II.

When the speed of the drive shaft I8 rises above idling speeds, the ends 61 of the weights 66 carried by the, flywheel I5 swing outwardly under centrifugal force.

This causes the finger I3 of each of these weights to move to the right,'as viewed in Fig. 1, and hence similarly shifts to the right, against the resistance of the helical compression spring the control valve sleeves 28 to cover still more of the ports 38 of each cylinder 28. Thi imposes'a still greater restriction to the free movement of the pistons 32 back and forth in the cylinders 28 and hence further restricts the free rotation of the nutating plate or disk 36 in the groove 48, thereby to drive the cage. 42 and driven shaft II at a still higher speed. When the speed of the drive shaft I8 i high enough to throw the weighted ends of the centrifugal weights 66 outwardly sufficiently far to cause the control valve sleeves 28 to completely cover the ports 38, no fluid can be pumped into and I out of th cylinders 28 and hence the plungers 32 are held against all movement. When this occurs the rotation of the nutating disk or plate 36 i stopped and a direct drive is'established through the cage 42 to'the drivenshaft II.

It will therefore be seen that the adjustment of the relative rotation of the drive shaft I8 and driven shaft II can be readily controlled by adjusting the control valve sleeves 28 to cover the ports 38 to a greater orless degree andhence that the present transmission provides a transmission in which the driven shaft is gradually brought up to the speed of the driving shaft. This is shown in Figs. 1-5 as accomplished in response to the speed of the driving shaft through the centrifugal weights 66, but it is apparent that the control can be accomplished manually.

- This modification of the invention is illustrated 88, th thrust bearing I4, sliding ring I5, cross pin 16, head I8 inthe bore I2 of the drive shaft. rod I9, cross pin 6| and brake disk 68. This frees the rim of the brake disk from the friction facing 59 of the stationary brake ring 58 and hence leaves the driven shaft II of the transmission free to rotate.

This outward movement of the weighted ends 61 of th weights 66 also moves the fingers 69 on the hubs of these weights 66 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1'. This forces th shifting ring II to the left and since the outwardly projecting flange I2 of this fing engages the shoulders provided by the beads 21 at the outer extremities of the control valve sleeves 28, each of these control sleeves 28 is also shifted to the left to cover the ports 38 to a greater degree. This restrict the flow of fluid from the body contained within the drum 58 into-and out of each cylinder 28 and hence places a resistance upon the free 'movement of the plungers 32 into and out of these cylinders. Accordingly, the free nutation of the nutating disk or plate 36 is restricted and its free rotation in the angular groove 88 is like- 66 are thrown further outward, thereby to move in Figs; 6-10.

In thisform of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6-10, the driving part or shaft of the transmission is indicated at 98 and the driven part or shaft 9I is provided with a central bore 92 and is shown as connecting with the usual reversing gearing contained within a reversing gear case 93. As with the form of the invention shown in Figs. l-5, this reversing gearing forms no part of the present invention and hence is not shown in detail.

A short intermediate shaft 95 is interposed between the end of the driving shaft 98 and the driven shaft 9I, this shaft 95 being journaled at one end in a bearing 96 carried by the driving and is externally formed to provide a ball shaped enlargement 99, the spherical surface of this ball shaped enlargement being cut to provide a series of longitudinal curved keyways carrying keys I88 for a purpose hereinafter described.

An imperforate wheel or flywheel'I85 is fastto the end of the drive shaft 98, the hub -of this flywheel carrying the bearing 96 in which'the end of the intermediate shaft 95 is joumaled. The flywheel is shown as having an annular face flange I86 which projects toward the reversing gear case 93 and to the end of this flange'is bolted an annular casting I81. This annular casting is formed to provide a series of uniformly spaced bores I89which are arranged concentric and parallel with the axis of the drive and driven shafts 98 and 9I, the annular casting I81 being shown as provided with five of such bores although any suitable number can be employed.

That end of each bore I89 which is adjacent the flywheel I is 'of reduced size and in this reduced part of each bore is secured the closed end H8 of a tubularcylinder II I, the opposite' open end of which faces the reversing gear case 93. The exterior of. each cylinder is spaced from the enlarged. part of each bore I89 and in this space is fitted the open end of a cylindrical piston or plunger 1 I2, each piston or plunger II 2 having a closed end I13, so that as the plunger or piston is reciprocated, liquid is pumped into and out of the cylinder I I I. This liquid flows through an annular series of ports H4 in the wall of each cylinder III near its closed end 0, these ports communicating with an open valve chamber II5 through the ports II6 of a rotatable valve sleeve II1 arranged within the open valve chamber H5 and fitting around the ported end of the cylinder III. The ports H4 and H6 of the cylinder and valve sleeve, respectively, are of teardrop form and disposed at an angle so that as the valve sleeve I I1 is rotated, the effective area of the ports is gradually reduced or increased, thereby to provide any desired restriction to the flow of liquid into and out of the cylinder.

. The outer end of each piston or plunger I I2 is secured by a ball joint indicated generally at I to a nutating disk or plate I2 I. This nutating disk or plate I2I is made in two halves I 2 la and I2Ib, the two disk shaped halves being held together by an annular series of bolts I23. The central parts of the two halves of the nutating disk or plate I21 jointly provide 'a spherical socket I24 which fits around the spherical periphery of the enlargement 99 on the intermediate shaft 95 and the two halves of the nutating disk or plate are also formed to receive and hold the keys I00 which ride in the curved keyways provided in the ball shaped enlargement 99.

The ball joint I20 connecting each piston or plunger II2 with the nutating disk or plate I2I is shown as constructed as follows:

As best shown in Figs. 7, 9 and 10, each of the pistons or plungers H2 is formed at its closed end II3 to provide a rounding fiat sided extension or ear I30 having a spherical bore I3I which opens on the opposite fiat sides of the ear or extension. This bore I3I receives a ball I32 which is provided with a. through bore I33. In provid- III I2I. The disks or wheels I31 are preferably aflorded a limited movement radially of the nutating disk or plate I2I to prevent cooking of the pistons II2 on their cylinders III.

As with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-5, the periphery of the nutating disk or plate I2I rides in an internal bearing groove I45 provided in the rim I of a cage I41, this cage being keyed to the driven shaft 9|. To permit of fitting the periphery of the nutating disk or plate I2I in the bearing groove I45, the rim I46 is split along a line I49 -arranged medially of the groove I and the two parts of the rim I46 are secured together by screws I49 or in any other suitable manner. The groove I45 is arranged at an angle to the perpendicular of the axis of the driving and driven shafts 90 and 91 and it will therefore be seen that as the parts rotate, the disk or plate I2I nutates thereby to work the pistons II2 back and forth around the cylinders III so long as the pistons are free to do so. The periphery of the nutating disk I2I is free to rotate in the internal groove I45 of the cage I41.

The parts rotate in a body of liquid contained within a drum I having a rim I5l suitably bolted to the rim of the annular casting I01 which carries the cylinders III. The hub I53 at the opposite end of the drum I50 houses the roller bearing 91 and a stufling box I54 whichembrace the driven shaft 9| so as to retain the body of liquid in the drum I50 and in operative relation to the ports II4 of the cylinders III as hereining the through bore I33. the ball I32 is, in effect,"

rendered fiat sided, the opposite edges of the bore I33 being in parallel planes which are spaced closer than the diameter of the ball. Advantage is taken of this to permit of inserting the ball I 32 in the spherical bore I3I, the ear I30 being provided at one side with a pair of straight grooves I34 at opposite sides of the spherical bore I33, so that the ball can he slipped endwise through the grooves I34 into the spherical bore I3I, following which the ball I32 can be turned so as to bring its spherical faces into full bearing engagement with the spherical bore I3I and so as to be confined therein. In this turned position of the ball I32, its through bore I33 is in coaxial relation to the through axis of the spherical bore I3I and a pin I36 is fitted into the bore I33 with its opposite ends projecting outwardly therefrom. In these projecting ends of each of these pins I33 are fitted small disks or wheels I31.

Each of the ball and socket structures as'above described is held within an aperture I40 jointly provided by the two halves of the nutating disk or plate I2I. For this purpose each half I2Ia and I2Ib of this nutating disk or plate I2I is provided on opposite sidesof each of its apertures I40 with a pair of outwardly projecting rounded ears I4I, each of which is provided with a rim I42 embracing and holding the rim of the corresponding disk or wheel I31. It will be seen that the ball I32 and the cylindrical bore I3I provide a bail and socket joint between each piston or plunger H2 and the nutating disk or plate after described.

The entire transmission as above described is housed within a stationary transmission casing I56 which can be of any suitable form and can be secured to the reversing gear case 93 in any suitable manner. This stationary transmission gear casing I56 is shown as provided with internal lugs I51 which carry a ring I58 which is arranged concentric with the axis of the driven shaft 9|. A

friction brake facing I 59 is secured to the face of the stationary ring I53 opposing the reversing gear case 93 and this friction brake face is engaged by the rim of a brake disc I 60 which is slidingly mounted on and rotates with the driven shaft 9|. For this purpose, the hub of the brake disk I60 fits the driven shaft and is provided with opposite apertures I6I receiving a cross pin or bar I62 which extends through a pair of opposite longitudinal grooves provided in the walls of the bored driven shaft 9 I Means are provided for manually turning the valve sleeves II1 surrounding the cylinders III and actuating the brake disk I60 to obtain any desired speed of the driven shaft 9I, these means being preferably constructed as follows:

As best shown in Fig. 8, an outwardly projecting lever arm I65 is fast to each of the valve sleeves I I1 and the freeend of this lever arm is connected by a link I66 to the end of a pin I61 projecting laterally from a radially movable slide I69. As best shown in Fig. 6, each of these slides I69 works in a radial slideway I69 provided in the annular casting I01 and the pin I 61 projects through a slot. I68 to the exterior of the annular casting I01. Each of the slides I68 is yieldingly urged toward the axis of the drive, driven and intermediate shafts by a helical compression spring I10 arranged in the outer end of each of the slideways I69.

The inner end of each of the slides I69 carries a ball I15 which is urged against the exterior of a sliding truncated cone I16 which fits around the intermediate shaft 95. This sliding cone I10 is 2,870,840 I provided with a pair of cross pins I18 which estend through opposite longitudinal slots I18 provided in the intermediate shaft 85. The opposing ends of the pins I18 connect with. a sliding head I88 and a helical compression spring I8I urges the head I88 and hence the cone I18 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6. The sliding head I 88 carries a thrust bearing I82 which bears against the head I88 of a connecting rod I84. The other end of this connecting rod connects with the cross pin or bar I8l carried by the hub of the brake disk I88.

This hub of the brake disk I88 also carries the inner race of a thrust bearing I85 and to the outer race of this hearing is secured a nonrotatable thrust collar I88. This thrust collar I88 is actuated, in any suitable manner, bya manually controlled lever I81. By the manual manipulation of the lever I81, the nonrotatable thrust collar I88 can be moved-to any desired position along the driven shaft 8I. Lubricant can be supplied to the thrust bearing I85 through a fitting I88 attached to the nonrotatable thrust ring I88.

In the operation of the transmission shown in Figs. 8-10, when no pressure is applied to the manually controlledv lever I81, the helical compression spring I8I urges the rod I84 to the left, as viewed in 6, thereby, through the cross Pin or bar I82, to urge the brake disk I88 into braking engagement with the friction facing I 58 of the stationary brake ring I58. Since the cross pin or bar I82 compels the driven shaft 8| and the brake disk I58 to rotate in unison, it will be seen that this action of the helical compression spring "I serves to hold the driven shaft 8| stationary. i

Since the helical compression spring I8I is at I this time holding the rod I84 as viewed in Fig. 6,

the cone I18 on the intermediate shaft 85 is also held in its extreme left position as viewed in this figure and in this positiomthe balls I15 of the slides I88 engage the small end of the cone I15,

these slides being urged into an inward position by their helical compression springs I18. In this position of the slides I58 their links I88 have drawn the arms I85, as viewed in Fig. 8, to their extreme inward position, and in this extreme in-' ward position of the arms I85 the valve sleeves I I1, to which these arms are attached, have been turned into a position in which the ports II8 of these valve sleeves are in full register with the ports II4 of the cylinders III which these valve sleeves .I I1 surround. .Since these cylinders III are fast to the annular casting I81 which is in turn secured to the flywheel I85 of the drive shaft I8, these cylinders rotate with the drive shaft and carry with them the pistons I I2. These pistons have their ends connected by the ball and socket joint I28 with the nutating disk or plate I2I and hence the rotation of the pistons II I with the drive shaft 88 effects a similar rotation of theg-nutatin'g disk or plate I2I. As the pistons are free to slide on the cylinders III, however, this rotation of the nutating disk or plate I2I merely serves to work the plungers or pistons II2 back and forth along the cylinders I I I, pumping liquid into and out of these cylinders throughthe registering teardrop portal and I I8, no motion being transmitted to the cage I41, the periphery of the nutating disk or plate I2I merely riding idly around in the groove I45 in the rim I48 of this cage I41. Hence, when no pressure is applied to the manually foperated lever I81, no motion is transmitted from the drive shaft 88 to 5 the driven shaft ti and instead a brake is applied to the driven shaft.

To start the rotation of the driven shaft 8|,

the operator actuates the manually controlled lever I81 so as to shift the ring I88 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6. Since this ring is connected by the thrust bearing I85 to the hub of the brake disk I68, this movement of this ring I85 to the right effects a release of the brake disk I88 from the friction facing of the stationary brake ring I58 so as to leave the driven shaft 8| free to rotate. This movement of the brake disk I88 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, also shifts the cross pin or bar I82 carried by the hub of the brake disk to the right along the slots provided in" the driven shaft 8I. This draws the rod I84 to the right against the resistance of the helical compression spring II and, through the head I83, thrust bearing I82, slide I88 and pins I18, draws the cone I18 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6. This movement of the cone I18 serves to move each of the slides I88 radially outward against the resistance of its helical compression spring I18. This outward movement of these .slldes I88, through their pins I81 and links I88, serves to rotate the arms I85 of the several valve sleeves II1 so as to move the teardrop ports II8 out of register with the ports II4 of the cylinders III to a corresponding degree. This movement of the ports I I8 and I I4 out of register with one another restricts the flow of fluid from the body contained within the drum I58 into and out of each of the cylinders III and hence places a resistance upon the free movement of the pistons or plungers II2 along these cylinders. Accordingly, the free nutation of the nutating disk or plate I2I is re-' stricted and its free rotation in the an lar groove I45 is likewise impeded so that power is transmitted through this nutating disk or plate I2I to the rim I48 of the cage I41. Since this cage I41 is fast to the driven shaft 8I, this motion is transmitted to the driven shaft andhence a drive is established between the driving and driven shafts 88 and 8|. Y

when a higher speed of the driven shaft 8I is desired, the operator moves the manually con-v trolled lever I81 to. a greater degree, thereb to rotate the control valv sleeves II1 to move the ports II8 of the valve sleeves II1 still further out of register with the ports II4 of the cylinders. This imposes a still greater restriction to the free movement of the pistons II2 back and forth on the cylinders I II- and hence further restricts the 'free rotation of the nutating plate or disk I2I in the groove I45, therebyto drive the cage I41 and driven shaft 8I at a still higher speed. When the manually controlled lever I 81 has been moved far enough to move the ports II5 of the control the invention shown 'in Figs. 6-10 the adjust- From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides an extremely simple hydraulic transmission in which any desired speed of the driven shaft can be obtained either through an automatic control responsive to the speed of the driving shaft or through a manual control and which is composed of a relatively few number of parts which can be easily produced and assembled or disassembled, the constructlon particularly lending itself to the mass production of transmissions of this character. It will further be seen that the transmission can b used in lieu of the usual gear shift mechanism between a driving and driven part or it can be used as a torque absorber to cushion the drive shaft against unusual and severe loads which may be placed upon the driven shaft as, for example, when the propeller of a propeller shaft reenters the water after racin in the air.

We claim as our invention:

1. A transmission for transmitting power between a rotary drivin P rt and a substantially coaxial rotary driven part, comprising a cage fast to said driven part and having a rim provided with an internal annular bearing groove having opposed bearing faces disposed at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said driven part, a nutating disk having its rim journaled in said groove and having opposite radial faces in bearing engagement with said bearing faces of said groove, an annular member fast to said driving part and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged substantially equidistant from and parallel with the axis of said driving part, a piston operatively associated with each ofsaid cylinders to pump liquid into and out of said cylinders, a ball and socket joint connecting the corresponding end of each piston with the adjacent part of said nutating disk and means for simultaneously adjustably restricting the flow of said liquid into and out of said cylinders.

2. A transmission for transmitting power between a rotary driving part and a substantially coaxial rotary driven part, comprising a, cage fast to one of said parts and having a two part rim provided with an internal annular bearing groove having opposed bearing faces disposed at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said parts, the said parts of said rim being divided along a'plane parallel with and intersecting said annular groove, a nutating disk journaled in said groove and having opposite radial faces in bearing engagement with said bearing faces of said groove, fastening means for holding the two parts of said rim together to rotatably confine said nutating disk in said groove, an annular member fast to the other of said parts and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged substantial- 1y equidistant from and parallel with the axis of said parts, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders to pump liquid into and out of said cylinders, means operatlvely connecting the corresponding end of each of said pistons with an adjacent part of said nutating disk, and means for adjustably restricting the flow of sai liquid into and out of said cylinders.

3. A transmission for transmitting power between a rotary driving part and a substantially coaxial rotary driven part, comprising a cagefast to one of said parts and having a rim provided with an internal annular bearing groove disposed at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis counterpart disk sections arranged face to face along a radial central plane and fastening means connecting said disk sections, an annular member fast to the other of said parts and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged substantially equidistant from and parallel with the axis of said parts, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders to pump liquid into and out of said cylinders, means confined between said disk sections and providing an articulated joint between the corresponding end of each of said pistons and the adjacent part of said nutating disk, and means for adlustably restricting the flow of said liquid into and out of said c linders.

4. A transmission for transmitting power between a rotary driving part and a substantially coaxial rotary driven part, comprising a cage fast to one of said parts and having a rim provided with an internal annular bearing groove disposed at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said parts, a nutating disk journaled in said bearing groove and comprising two substantially counterpart disk sections arranged face to face along a' radial central plane and fastening means connecting said disk sections, an annular member fast to the other of said parts and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged substantially equidistant from and parallel with the axis of said parts, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders to pump liquid into and out of said cylinders, means confined between said disk sections and providin a ball and socket joint between the corresponding end of each of said pistons and the adjacent part of said nutating disk, and means for adjustably restricting the flow of said liquid into and out of said cylinders.

5. A transmission for transmitting power between a rotary driving part and a substantially coaxial rotary driven part, comprising a cage fast to one of said parts and having a rim provided with-an internal annular bearing groove having opposed bearing faces disposed at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axi of said parts, a nutating diskjoumaled in said bearing groove and comprising twosubstantially counterpart disk sections arranged face to face alon a radial central plane and fastenin means connecting said disk sections, said nutating disk having opposite radial faces in bearing engagement with said bearing faces of said groove, an annular member fast to the other of said parts and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged substantially equldistant from and parallel with the axis of said parts, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders to pump liquid into and out of said cylinders and provided at its free end with a reduced neck and a ball, said disk sections being jointly formed to provide a plurality of spherical sockets each receiving a corresponding ball and each having an opening receiving the corresponding neck, and means for adjustably restricting the flow of said liquid into and out of said cylinders.

6. A transmission for transmitting power between a rotary driving part and a substantially coaxial rotary driven part, comprising a cag fast to one ofv said parts and having a rim provided with an internal annular bearing groove disposed at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said parts, a nutating disk journaled in said bearing groove and comprising two disk sections arranged face to face and fastening means connecting said disk sections, an annular member fast to the other of said parts and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged substantial- 1y equidistant from and parallel with the axis of said parts, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders to pump liquid into and out of said cylinders the free end of each of said pistons being formed to provide an ear having a spherical socket with openings at its sides, a ball in said socket, a pin extending through said ball and projecting outwardly from said openings, a small disk embracing each end of said pin, said disk sections being jointly formed to provide a recessreceiving and confiningeach of said small disks, and means for adjustably restricting the flow of said liquid into and out of said cylinders.

7. A transmission for transmitting power between a rotary driving part and a substantially coaxial rotary driven part having a spherical enlargement, comprising a cage fast to said driven part and having a rim provided w th ,an internal annular bearing groove disposed at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis'of said Parts, a nutating disk journaled in said bearing groove and having a central spherical socket embracing said spherical enlargement of said driven shaft, an annular member fast to said driving part and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged substantially equidistant from and parallel with the axis of said parts, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders to pump liquid tween a rotary driving part and a substantially coaxial rotary driven part, comprisinga freely rotatable intermediate shaft arranged coaxially between said driving and driven parts and hav- 4 ing a spherical enlargement, a cage fast to said driven part and having a rim provided with an internal bearing groove disposed at an angl to a planeperpendicular to the axis of said parts, a nutating disk journaled in said bearing groove and comprising two disk sections arranged face I to face and fastening means connecting said disk sections, said disk sections being jointly formed to provide a central spherical socket embracing.

said spherical enlargement of said intermediate J shaft, said spherical enlargement and said socket into and out of said cylinders, means operatively connecting the corresponding end of each of said pistons with an adjacent part of said nutating disk and means for adjustably restricting the flow I of said liquid into and out of said cylinders,

8. A transmission for transmitting power besaid spherical enlargement of said driven shaft,

an annular member fast to said driving part and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged.

substantially equidistant from and parallelwith the axis of said parts, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders to pump liquid into and out of said cylinders, means operatively connecting the corresponding end of each of said pistons with an adjacent part of said nutating disk and means for adjustabl restricting the flow of said liquid into and out of saidcylinders.

9. A transmission for transmitting power between a rotary driving part and a substantially coaxial rotary driven part, comprising a freely rotatable intermediate shaft arranged coaxially between said driving and driven parts and havv ing a spherical enlargement, a cage fast to said driven part and having a rim provided with an internal bearing groove disposed at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said parts, a nutating disk journaled in said bearing gro ve and having a central spherical socket embracing said spherical enlargement of said driven shaft, an annular member fast to said drivin part and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged being provided'with interfitting keys and keyways permitting oscillation of said nutating disk about said spherical enlargement parallel with the plane of the axis of said intermediate shaft but compelling said'nutating disk and intermediate shaft to rotate in unison, an annular member fast to said driving part and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged substantially equidistant from and parallel with the axis of said parts, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders to pump liquid into and out of said cylinders, means operatively connectin the corresponding end of each of said pistons with an adjacent part of said nutating disk and means for adjustably restricting the now of said liquid into and out of said cylinders.

11. A transmission for transmitting power between a rotary driving part and a substantially coaxial rotary driven part, comprising a nutating disk rotatably secured to one of said parts to rotate in a plane arranged at an angle to the perpendicular of the axis of said parts, an annular member fast to'the other of said parts and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged substantially equidistant from and parallel with the axis of said parts, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders, 'means operatively connecting the corresponding end of each of said pistons with an adjacent part of said nutating disk, control means arranged coaxially within one of said parts and movable axially, means for variably restricting the flow of liquid into and out of said cylinders in response to the axial movement of said contrcl' means, a stationary brake ring concentric with said driven part, a brake disk operatively connected with said control means slidinglymounted on said driven part concentric therewith and movable axially to engage with .said brake ring and compelled to rotate with said drivenp rt and means for simultaneously movof said liquid into and out of said cylinders and actuate said brake disk to engage said stationary tween a rotary drive shaft and a substantially I ring following the relief of all restriction to said flOW of liquid.

12. A transmission for transmitting power becoaxial driven shaft having an axial bore, comprising a nutating plate rotatably secured to said driven shaft to rotate in a plane arranged at an angle to the perpendicular of the axis of said shafts, an annular member fast to the drive shaft and carrying an annular series of cylinders arranged substantially equidistant from and parallel with the axis of rotation of said shafts, 2. Diston operatively associated with .each of said cylinders, means operatively connecting the corresponding endof each of said pistons with an ad- .lacent part of said nutating disk, a stationary brake ring concentric with said driven shaft, a brake disk slidingly mounted on said driven shaft to engage with said brake ring and compelled to rotate with said driven shaft, a rod slidingly artain a body of liquid, a nutating plate in said enclosure rotatably secured to said driven shaft to rotate in a plane arranged at an angle to the perpendicular of the axis of said shafts, an annular member in said enclosure fast to said drive shaft, an annular series of cylinders carried by said annular member, .each having a closed end the taper of said cone, spring meanlfor holding each of said slide members asainstsaidcone. means for opening and closing said port in response to the said radial movement of said slide members and means for adiustably moving said cone axially. Y

14. A transmission for transmitting power between a rotary drive shaft and a substantially coaxial driven shaft, comprising means providing an enclosure around the opposing ends of said driving and driven shafts and adapted to contain a. body of liquid, anutating plate in said enclosure rotatably secured to said driven shaft to rotate in a plane arranged at an angle to the perpendicular of the axis of said shafts, an annular member in said enclosure fast to said drive shaft, an annular series of cylinders carried by said annular member, each having a closed end and an open end facing said nutating plate and each having an exposed port in its side, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders, means operatively connecting the corresponding end of each of said pistons with an adjacent part of said nutating disk, a valve sleeve on each of said cylinders and having a port adapted to register with the port in its cylinder and rotatable and an open end facing said nutating plate and each having an exposed port, a piston operatively associated with each of said cylinders, means operatively connecting the corresponding end of each of said pistons with an adjacent part of said nutating disk, an axially movable cone arranged in said enclosure substantially coaxial with said drive and driven shafts, a slide member associated with each cylinder and mounted for radial movement on said annular member to engage to move the companion ports into and out of register with each other, an axially movable cone arranged in said enclosure substantially coaxial with said drive and driven shafts, means for rotating said valve sleeves in response to the said axial movement of said cone and means for adjustably moving said cone axially.

PAUL A. DEARDORFF. CHARLES A. BALTON. 

